likely to trust a complete stranger on the street whose values you can only guess at, or a young man working for his redemption?”
I didn’t like it. Not one bit. I needed help, but there was nowhere else to get it. “Fine. But I have a condition of my own.”
“Go ahead,” he prompted me.
“I have a dissolving bullet that can remove a person’s Abilities for one day. Let me use it on him, and I’ll bring him with me. If I have to share space with him, I don’t want to have to worry about him Commanding me to walk off a cliff.”
“Incredible,” Brendon said with marked fascination. “I would be most interested in acquiring such a formula. Would your people be willing to consider a trade agreement?”
“Maybe.” I had no idea. “But not unless I come back safe and sound.”
“Agreed. You may use this formula on my brother. It will likely be for his own benefit that his power is dulled for a time. Make no mistake, if my brother is killed by you or this bullet of yours, I will bring the fury of my Prince’s kingdom on you.”
“I’m not going to kill him,” I promised.
“To be sure, I will keep one of your friends here for safekeeping.”
“What?” Sterling and Kyle demanded in chorus.
“No,” Ruby said, shuffling backward into Sterling’s arms.
“Absolutely not.” My shoulders tensed and I took a step toward Brendan’s raised desk. “They’re here by mistake.”
“And one your people seem to be fond of making,” Brendon quipped.
“They were just leaving!” I persisted.
“I’m afraid not. This is not some child’s game, Ambassador Kestrel, we’re a kingdom at war. As of this minute, I will be keeping one of those three. You protect my brother, I protect one of your friends. Do what you will with the other two. There is no need to flee to your country for reinforcements, your friend will be my guest, treated with the utmost respect and dignity until your return. You have my word, and my brother.”
“And if I don’t,” my voice broke. “…return?”
“Ninety days, and then she can go as she pleases,” he vowed.
“She?”
“As a mercy, I’ll be taking the girl.”
C hapter 9: The Dark
At first, I couldn't believe the level of security in place to contain Dylan. After some consideration, it made perfect sense. He had a strong Ability that allowed him to manipulate gravity, and, in addition to that, the power of a Commander. With a single thought, he could control a person’s body. Make them walk off a cliff or stop breathing, if he willed it.
As Brendon had told me, he was being kept in the dungeon below the keep. I had spent a night there before, so I was surprised to see its new design. My pair of guards escorted me to a narrow outer room. It housed two Militia watchmen, two massive levers attached to four grinding gears set into the wall, and a single door without a visible lock or knob.
“Send her in,” my guard said to the others.
In a moment, one of the watchmen was turning the first lever. It was such a large mechanism, he had to put his back into it. The heavy door slid open. It was a slab of stone, tipped with bronze, and made way slowly. I was already feeling queasy at the prospect of seeing Dylan again, but if this setup was any indication, I should be afraid of him too.
“ Well, what's the worst that could happen?” I joked, mostly to myself. The guards didn't find me at all funny.
I stepped into the room and shielded my eyes. There was a bright spot lamp aimed at a massive cube of barred iron. Within this cage was a cot, a single chair, a small table, a deck of cards, and Dylan, with a metal collar around his throat. A thick chain hung from his neck, down to the floor, and gradually weaved through the bars, plunging directly into the stone wall.
“ Who's that? Who is my brother sending down this time? A priest?” Dylan Axton laughed darkly.
My guts wrenched upon seeing him. He looked so different, standing
I didn’t like it. Not one bit. I needed help, but there was nowhere else to get it. “Fine. But I have a condition of my own.”
“Go ahead,” he prompted me.
“I have a dissolving bullet that can remove a person’s Abilities for one day. Let me use it on him, and I’ll bring him with me. If I have to share space with him, I don’t want to have to worry about him Commanding me to walk off a cliff.”
“Incredible,” Brendon said with marked fascination. “I would be most interested in acquiring such a formula. Would your people be willing to consider a trade agreement?”
“Maybe.” I had no idea. “But not unless I come back safe and sound.”
“Agreed. You may use this formula on my brother. It will likely be for his own benefit that his power is dulled for a time. Make no mistake, if my brother is killed by you or this bullet of yours, I will bring the fury of my Prince’s kingdom on you.”
“I’m not going to kill him,” I promised.
“To be sure, I will keep one of your friends here for safekeeping.”
“What?” Sterling and Kyle demanded in chorus.
“No,” Ruby said, shuffling backward into Sterling’s arms.
“Absolutely not.” My shoulders tensed and I took a step toward Brendan’s raised desk. “They’re here by mistake.”
“And one your people seem to be fond of making,” Brendon quipped.
“They were just leaving!” I persisted.
“I’m afraid not. This is not some child’s game, Ambassador Kestrel, we’re a kingdom at war. As of this minute, I will be keeping one of those three. You protect my brother, I protect one of your friends. Do what you will with the other two. There is no need to flee to your country for reinforcements, your friend will be my guest, treated with the utmost respect and dignity until your return. You have my word, and my brother.”
“And if I don’t,” my voice broke. “…return?”
“Ninety days, and then she can go as she pleases,” he vowed.
“She?”
“As a mercy, I’ll be taking the girl.”
C hapter 9: The Dark
At first, I couldn't believe the level of security in place to contain Dylan. After some consideration, it made perfect sense. He had a strong Ability that allowed him to manipulate gravity, and, in addition to that, the power of a Commander. With a single thought, he could control a person’s body. Make them walk off a cliff or stop breathing, if he willed it.
As Brendon had told me, he was being kept in the dungeon below the keep. I had spent a night there before, so I was surprised to see its new design. My pair of guards escorted me to a narrow outer room. It housed two Militia watchmen, two massive levers attached to four grinding gears set into the wall, and a single door without a visible lock or knob.
“Send her in,” my guard said to the others.
In a moment, one of the watchmen was turning the first lever. It was such a large mechanism, he had to put his back into it. The heavy door slid open. It was a slab of stone, tipped with bronze, and made way slowly. I was already feeling queasy at the prospect of seeing Dylan again, but if this setup was any indication, I should be afraid of him too.
“ Well, what's the worst that could happen?” I joked, mostly to myself. The guards didn't find me at all funny.
I stepped into the room and shielded my eyes. There was a bright spot lamp aimed at a massive cube of barred iron. Within this cage was a cot, a single chair, a small table, a deck of cards, and Dylan, with a metal collar around his throat. A thick chain hung from his neck, down to the floor, and gradually weaved through the bars, plunging directly into the stone wall.
“ Who's that? Who is my brother sending down this time? A priest?” Dylan Axton laughed darkly.
My guts wrenched upon seeing him. He looked so different, standing
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